Crank



Aug. 28, 1934. D. Bl HOWELL 1,971,784

CRANK Filed April 30, 1932 Patented ug. 28, 1934 UNITED STATES mrsurr orrics i CRANK `Delta B. Howell, Murphysboro, Ill. Appncationnpriiso, 1932, serial No. 608,370 zolaims- (o1. 25-153 t The present invention relates generally to cranks for holding clay products during firing or burning thereofin kilns or like heating apparatus. v More particularly the invention relates to that type of crank which is adapted to be stacked and interlocked with other cranks of the same character and construction, and isdesigned particularly to hold a `plate lor similar article embodying a continuous foot on the under side thereof and a comparatively thin, fragile rim.

One object of the invention is to provide a plate-supporting crank Vof this type in which the central portion thereof is constructed and arrangedto receiveand supportthe foot of the plate, and the outer parts are shaped so as to engage and support the rim of the plate in order lto prevent the latter from collapsing or becoming distorted during ,the firing or burning operation.

`Another object of the invention is tok provide a crank of the type under consideration in which the `rim-supporting outer parts embody upwardly extending lugs which are adapted to form a rest for,` an annular bead on the under `side of the rim of the plate and are radially elongated so that the bead is free -to` slide thereon in response tocontraction or expansion of the plate.

`A jfurther object of the invention-is to providea plate-supportingcrank o f thelast men' tioned character in which the extreme outer parts areshaped so as to form supporting members whereby the crank maybe stacked and interlocked with other cranks of the same type.

A still further object of the invention isto `provide a crank which is generally ofnew and improved construction, may be manufactured at a low and reasonable-cost and `serves efficiently to support a plate or like article so that it is not subject to distortion or breakage during the firing or burning operation. p

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present crank construction will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists y in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are vmore particularly defined by claims at the 'con clusion hereof. k i p i Y In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding'partsl throughout the several views:

Figure 1 isa plan View of a crank embodying the preferred form of the invention, illustrating in detail the manner in which the crank operates to support a plate having an annular bead on the under side of the rim thereof;

Figure 2 is a Vertical section showing the crank in stacked relation with other cranks of the same type;

Figure 3 is a perspective of one of the arms of the crank which radiates from the central portion of the crank and embody the lugs for engagernen with'the bead of the plate; 1

`Figure i is a bottom view of the plate whic is shown in Figures 1 and 2 as being supported on the crank; i

Figure 5 is a plan view of a crank embodying a second or modified form of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a vertical section of the crank of Figure 5.

The crank which is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing and represents the preferred form plate p, as shown in the drawing, is of standard design and construction, and embodies a circular foot 'fp' on the under side of its central portion. In addition to the circular foot p', the plate em; bodies .an annular beadpz. vThis bead is formed integrallyY with and projects downwardly from the under side of therim of the plate, and is located between the edge of the plate and the circular foot p. The crank c is formed of earthenware or similar material and is adapted to have the plate p placed manually thereon. The inner ends of the radially extending arms 8 are formedintegrally with one another and are shaped to` form a flat hub or central part 9 for engaging and receiving the circular foot p on the plate p. The outer ends of the arms extend upwardly and outwardly and terminate in supporting members 10. They embody shoulders 11 for `conining the foot p' of the plate and have lugs 12 on the upper faces thereof midway between the shoulders `11 and the supporting members 10. These lugs 12 are flat, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, and are of such height that they engage and form rests for the annular bead p2 on the plate. By utilizing the lugs l2,the rim of the plate 'is supported on the crank and hence `there is no likelihood of the `rimv collapsing or becoming distorted during the firing or burning operation. The lugs 12 areradially elongated so thatV the Ybead p2 is free to slide thereon in respense to contraction and expansionof the plate. The bead is preferably extremely small and serves to space the rim of the plate from the lugs so that the glaze which is usually applied to the plate prior to the burning operation is not removed by contact of the rim and the lugs. The lugs 12 are arranged so that they extend upwardly and outwardly in substantially parallel relation with respect to the rim of the plate. As a result of this arrangement, contact of the bead with the lugs is assured at all times.

The crank c is shown as being stacked between the cranks c and c2 and is heldin place by means of the supporting members 10. The latter embody semi-spherical recesses 13 in the upper ends thereof and have complemental, semi-spherical projections 14 at their lower ends. The projections 14 are adapted, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, to enter recesses in the supporting members of the crank c2 upon which the crank c is stacked, in order to form interlocking connections whereby the two cranks are held against lateral displacement. The recesses V13 in the upper ends of the supporting members are adapted to receive projections on the supporting members of the subjacent crank c in order to form interlocking connections similar to those between the crank c and the crank c2. The supporting members 10 are of such height that the plate p is spaced from the arms and the hub or central part of the crank c. The supporting Amembers of the crank c2 are shown as embodying legs instead of projections in order that the crank is held against tilting. In utilizing the crank c, the plate p, after glazing thereof, is placed so that the foot p rests upon the hub or central part 9 of the crank c and the annular bead p2 rests upon, and is Supported by, the lugs 12 on the outer ends of the arms 8. After the plate is placed thereon, the crank c is mounted on the crank c2 and then the crank c' with a plate thereon is mounted on the crank c, in order to form a stack for placement within a kiln or similar heating apparatus in connection with the firing or burning of the plates. After the firing or burning operation, the cranks are separated and the plates are withdrawn.

The crank of Figures 5 and 6 is substantially the same as that of Figures l, 2 and 3, except that it is continuous instead of embodying radially extending arms. It is formed of a single piece of earthenware or like material and embodies a flat hub or central portion 15 and a circular marginal part 16. The member 15 is flat, as shown in Figure 6, and supports the foot of the plate with which the` crank isV associated. The marginal part 16 extends upwardly and outwardly from the hub-member 15 and embodies an annular lug 17 for engaging and supporting the bead on the plate. Semi-spherical recesses 18 corresponding to the recesses 13 in the supporting members 10 of the crank c are formed in the upper face of the extreme outer portion of the marginal part 16. Projections 19 corresponding to the projections 14 on the supporting members 10 of the crank c, are formed on the under side ofthe crank of Figures 5 and 6.

The herein disclosed crank structure is extremely simple as far as construction is concerned, and may be manufactured at a. low. and reasonable cost. It is extremely efficient in operation in that it embodies provision for supporting the rim .of the plate with which it is associated, in order to prevent collapse or distortion of the latter during the ring or burning operation.

The invention is not to bev understood as restricted tothe details set forth, sincethese may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A crank for supporting for firing purposes a plate having a foot on the under side thereof, comprising a hub or central part adapted to engage and support the foot of the plate, and upwardly and outwardly extending outer parts embodying raised means to engage and support the rim of the plate to prevent collapse thereof during firing of said plate.

2. A crank for supporting a plate during firing thereof, comprising a hub or central part adapted to underlie the central part of the plate, and upwardly and outwardly extending outer parts embodying lug-means for engaging and supporting the rim of the plate to prevent collapse thereof during the ring operation.

3. A crank for supporting a plate during firing thereof, comprising a hub or central part adapted tov underlie and support thecentral part of the plate, and an upwardly and outwardly extending outer part having a raised lug for engaging and supporting the rim of the plate to prevent collapse thereof during the firing operation.

4. A crank for supporting for ring purposes a plate having a foot on the under side thereof and a depending bead between the foot and the plate edge, comprising a hub or central part adapted to underlie and support the foot of the plate, and upwardly. and outwardly extending outer parts embodying raised means to engage and support the bead in order to prevent collapse of the rim of the plate during ring thereof.

5. A crank for supporting for firing purposes a plate having a foot on the under side thereof, comprising a hub or central part adapted to underlie and support the foot of the plate and having a surrounding shoulder for confining said foot, and upwardly and outwardly extending outer parts shaped to engage and support the rim of the plate to prevent collapse thereof during firing.

6. A crank for supporting for firing purposes, a plate having a foot on the under side thereof and a depending beadv between the foot and the plate edge, comprising a hub or central part adapted to underlie and support the foot of the plate and having a surrounding shoulder for conning said foot, and upwardly and outwardly extending outer parts shaped to engage and support the bead in order to prevent collapse of the rim of the plate during firing thereof.

7. A crank for-supporting for firing purposes, a plate having a foot on the under side thereof and a depending bead between the foot and the plate edge, comprising a hub or cent-ral part adapted to underlie and support the foot of the plate and 1^ embodying a surrounding shoulder for confining the foot, and upwardly and outwardly extending outer parts embodying lug-means for engaging and supporting the bead in order to prevent collapse of the rim of the plate during firing.

DELTA B'. HOWELL.

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